Remember the ever so loving Hanuman of Matrix and daring acts of Spiderman-II and Krrish Whoever can forget the evergreen animations of Walt Disney It was all possible only due to animation.

The word animation comes from a Latin word anima, meaning soul i.e. when life breathes into characters. The cave paintings in sequence depicting the life of the cavemen can be called the earliest form of animation. Today animation is rapid display of 2D or 3D images to create an illusion of motion. It is an art that brings to life the in animate objects or images.

Animation is emerging as a unique media and growing into a multi billion dollar industry, generating employment opportunities for the millions. The scope is not limited to the films. It is being used in other sectors one could not even have thought of. It is being used for presentations and conferences by scientists, marketing experts Industrial designers and even public speakers. Architects and planners are using the art to present their ideas. The scope currently seems to be unlimited.

One may be employed as modeler, layout artist, Scanner operator, Digital ink or paint artist, Key frame animator, background artist and the list of specializations goes on. Each role is as important for a successful project. Games Designers and communication designers is another genre in animation fast picking up and high in demand.

To become a successful animator there are a set of personal traits and educational qualifications that are must. One needs to be a creative and highly imaginative person with a flair for drawing and sketching. One should be prepared for long hours of dedicated sittings for the purpose .

Many reputed institutions offer degrees and diplomas in animation. The basic eligibility for most of these courses is 10+2. Some institutes like IDC, IIT and NID take only graduates with architecture, engineering or fine arts.

Animation is being very effectively used in entertainment, Web Designing, Virtual reality, advertising, marketing, architecture and planning, education and engineering.

What is it

Animation is usually associated with the work of film making. Illustrators create action from a series of images and we have the illusion of something living. Animation is a type of optical illusion. It involves the appearance of motion caused by displaying still images one after another. It is based on the theory of persistence of vision. Cartoon animation is often considered to be animation in its classic form though it has marked its presence in other forms of entertainment, art and the arena of educational learning and instructional and corporate presentations.

Qualifications

Animation is one of the fastest growing sectors with a huge potential for creativity and innovation. The basic skill set includes Patience and attention to detail, Drawing skills, Computer literacy and familiarity with graphics software, Communication and presentation skills, Ability to meet deadlines and work as part of a team. There are a lot many courses after 10+2 to get into animation. Graduate courses are also available. Once through the course, only creativity, innovation and then experience counts

Scope

The animation industry consists of a workforce that includes audio visual industries apart from the core animation done in 2D or 3D model or computer generated (that has the highest scope in terms of presentation and presence both). Animation is omnipresent on television, in feature films, commercials, websites and computer or video games and even in the corporate presentations. Animation is expensive and time consuming. Mostly professional studios take up the jobs but these days independent studios coming up in the field. Freelance or independent animators are also much in demand for the online media, presentations and such small scale work.